Why is this happening?
The County's waste collection contractor, Waste Connections, continues to experience challenges with staffing due to labour shortages and drivers reaching their maximum legally permitted hours to operate. Unfortunately, there is an industry wide labour shortage of truck drivers across Ontario and Canada. A study commissioned by the Canadian Trucking Alliance, revealed the trucking industry will be short as many as 48,000 drivers by 2024.
What is the County doing about it?
Starting February 3, 2020, garbage and recycling collection will occur on alternating weeks, while green bin collection will continue every week. For more information on the Collections Change, visit simcoe.ca/collectionschange.
The County has also implemented a variety of measures, including:
- Prioritizing the collection of garbage and green bin organics in order to reduce odour and animal impacts.
- The County is holding our waste collections contractor responsible for all costs incurred by the County through applying liquidated damages charges
- Secured the services of other waste collection companies to help fill empty routes each day
- Returning to most delayed areas the following day or on Saturdays. Download the app to receive alerts.
What am I expected to do with all my excess recycling?
If missed, residents are encouraged to utilize cardboard boxes, plastic storage boxes, and see-through blue or clear plastic bags for overflow recyclables. As always, to reduce issues with odours and contamination of recyclables, cans, bottles and cartons should be rinsed. Residents are reminded that you can drop off your recyclables to your nearest waste management facility during regular operating hours for free.
Why do I need to separate my recycling throughout January
Until the Collections Change is implemented, residents will continue to see a different collection vehicle picking up recyclables. Many of these vehicles that have been brought in are rear loading with recycling materials being bulked in one area. We assure you that the recycling material is being properly sorted and recycled once it reaches the sorting centre.
Starting February 3, residents will no longer have to separate their paper fibres from their containers. Materials can be set out at the curb mixed together in the same bins, which will simplify the process for residents and reduce recycling being left behind due to improper sorting. Collected recycling will be sorted at a processing facility. Single-stream collection is the predominant method in Ontario.
My taxes pay for a service I am not receiving – how do I get my money back?
We
certainly understand that our residents are upset when their waste materials
are not collected. This service is paid for through the County of
Simcoe’s levy, the average cost per serviced unit is approximately
$165 per year which covers the full net cost of waste collections, transfer,
haulage and processing/disposal costs. The County is holding our waste
collections contractor fully responsible for costs incurred by the County
through applying liquidated damage charges through our contract and will not
be paying for services that are not rendered.
Can we just go hire another company to replace the current contractor?
Unfortunately, there is not another contractor able to supply the additional required trucks and staff. The County has already hired all available outside contractors to assist with collections. We are working on a RFP document for a new contractor to take over collections. However this will not happen quickly given the significant lead time required to order and take delivery on a fleet of over 60 collection trucks and to get the staffing and yard / service shops required to support such a fleet.
Why don't we cancel the contract if they are not doing the job?
Unfortunately, there is not another contractor able to supply the additional required trucks and staff. We are working on a RFP document for a new contractor to take over collections. However, this will not happen quickly given the significant 12- to 18-month lead time required to order and take delivery on a fleet of more than 60 collection trucks and to get the staffing and yard/service shops required to support a fleet.
Can we switch to caddy carts – that system works better?
Caddy carts- or automated/ semi-automated cart collection provides a variety of pros and cons. This option will be investigated as a potential in the next collection contract.
How did the County let this happen – why did we choose a company/process that can’t do the job?
Waste Connections is a large company with a well established reputation. They were hired through our public tendering process in which they were evaluated based on their experience, skills, staffing, price, references and capabilities. Unfortunately, circumstances sometimes change and the County is working to release a new RFP later this year to hire the next contractor(s).
How do I know if and or when they are coming and/or returning given the sporadic collections?
We encourage you to download the free 'Simcoe County Collects' app
through Google Play or the App Store or subscribe for
waste collection alerts at www.simcoe.ca/wastereminder. This will
allow us to notify you of what to expect in your specific area and what you
should do. Notifications are also posted on simcoe.ca and through twitter
(@simcoecountycs, @simcoecounty) and facebook (@CountyofSimcoe).
When will this end – what is the long term plan?
The next collection contract will be released later this year to secure the new contractor(s). However, this will not happen quickly given the 12- to 18-month lead time required to order and take delivery on a fleet of over 60 new collection trucks and to get the staffing and yard / service shops required to support such a fleet. February's Collections Change will help restore predictability, lead to long-term environmental benefits, encourage residents to positively adjust their waste habits and control costs in the interim period.
